I finally took the plunge and ponied up the cash to get my testosterone levels checked. I got the full male hormone panel which gives results for total testosterone, free testosterone (which is the important one), DHEA and SHBG (which is the bastard that binds up your testosterone so you don’t have as much free).
I was hopeful, but I can’t say I’m surprised by the results. At least I have a good baseline to start from so I can take action and measure again in a few months. I did lose 20 lbs and recently came off a lengthy lowish calorie diet, which isn’t good for hormonal levels, so that may have had some impact, but ultimately, I’m 57 years old, so low T is to be expected. Here are the lowdown, dastardly details:
- Total Testosterone: 364 ng/dl Normal range is 250-1100
- Free Testosterone: 33.7 pg/ml Normal range is 35-155
- SHBG: 60 nmol/L Normal range is 22-77
- DHEA: 263 mcg/dl Normal range is 38-313
As you can see, my DHEA supplementation is obviously working as I’m quite high in the range. Unfortunately, I’m barely above the level where most doctors would recommend HRT for testosterone. Free T is actually below normal at least partly because Sex Hormone Binding Globulin is so damn high. It’s a sad state of affairs.
I’ve been researching supplements to lower the SHBG because that’s a double benefit. If I lower that, the Free T will increase. Unfortunately, I’d have to use a suicide aromatase inhibitor to get real results and I’m not quite willing to go that route yet. They used to make a product called 6-Oxo which I used once long ago, and it worked like a charm. But it was taken off the market because it worked. The old standby’s I have used before I still use, but they aren’t cutting the mustard anymore.
So after much debate with my inner monologue, who I now embrace as my best friend in this isolated COVID-19 world, I decided to go the non-pharmaceutical route for a few months and then re-test. My long list of supplements include:
- Ashwaghanda
- D-Aspartic Acid
- Coleus Forskolli
- DIM
- Longkat Ali
Some of those allegedly increase testosterone production, and some allegedly provide some anti-estrogen effects. I’ve also upped my dose on Boron and Magnesium and will dramatically increase the amount of cruciferous veggies I eat. I already try to eat broccoli, cauliflower or brussels sprouts every day, but I don’t eat anywhere near enough to have an estrogen blocking effect.
I can’t just accept age-related declines in my levels. I work too damned hard to build muscle, lose fat and gain strength to get lousy results because of my hormonal profile. If I can’t get myself in a better position naturally by March or so when I check them again, I’m going to get a consult and lose my natty card. I wouldn’t go the illegal steroid route of course, at least I don’t think so, but good old TRT with a nice scrip for an aromatase inhibitor would be like sweet, sweet candy.
Here’s a video of today’s Heavy Day:
- Squats: 251.5 x 3
- Bench: 167 x 4
- Deadlift: 312 x 3
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